Attachment for spinning machines



Jan. 24, 1939. w. H.'PORTER ET AL 2,144,564

ATTACHMENT FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed Jul 14; 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. WLL/AM H. K 01 27792 5,

% ATTORNEY.

Jan. 24, 1939.

W. H. PORTER ET AL Filed July 14, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F3 20 M I 7 g Y/0 I 3/ i i T /6 411 v KM 5/ ATTORNEY.

Jan; 24, 1939. w. H. PORTER ET AL ,1 I ATTACHMENT FOR SPINNING MACHINESI Filed July 14, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M0444 P05752 WATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT O F F] C E.

William H. Porter, Moylan, and Norman Redman, Philadelphia, Pa.

* Application July 14, 1937, Serial No. 153,526

5 Claims.

This'invention has to do with those machines that are employed for thepurpose of twisting or spinning various types of fibres in thepreparation of yarn.

At the present time in the preparation of yarn from the various types offibres, such as animal,

vegetable or artificial, machines known in the art 'as spinningmachines, roving frames and twisting frames are employed, depending uponthe particularnature of the work to be done and the yarn productdesired. All of these machines have a feature-in common, which is theinclusion of a feed roll over which the yarn that is being treatedpasses. This feed roll'determines the speed at which the yarn is fed tothe other instrumentali- 'ties of the particular machine.

There is today in the textile and related trades aver'y' noticeabledemand for a'so-called irregular yarn; that is a yarn in which thediametrical dimension varies at different points along the yarn.

In order to satisfy this demand various attachments for spinningmachines have been proposed, and which are effective to vary the speedat which the feed roll is driven; this variation being -evidencedin thefinished yarn in the irregular structure of the latter. However, theknown attachments for this purpose have not proven to be entirelystaisfactory, and this condition is attributed mainly to two features.The first is the complex nature of the now known attachments,"and thesecond is the lack of sureness in their operation.

Another highly undesirable feature that is cornmon to many of the knownattachments is that they cause the feed roll of the spinning machine tobe driven at a rate of speed lower than the normal minimum rate of speedof the machine.

With these conditions in mind this invention has in view as its foremostobjective the provision of an attachment for spinning and similarmachines of the character above noted. Which is designed to beoperatively associated with the feed roll of the machine to effect thevariation in speed of the latter, and in accordance with this inventionthis attachment is of a highly simplified nature, and operates with adegree of sureness heretofore unattained in this art.

The invention has in View as a further objective the provision of anattachment of the type set forth above, and which attachment iseffective to increase the speedof the feed roller as occasion demands,but which attachment is never e'fiective to reduce the normal operatingspeed of the feed roller.

In attaining these objectives in a practical embodiment the inventionincludes as an essential element the provision of a free wheelingmechanism that is mounted on the drive shaft for the feed rollers. Asthis drive shaft is driven the free wheeling mechanism at no time iseffective to reduce or interfere with the speed of the drive shaft tocause the latter to operate at a speed lower than the normal operatingspeed. However, certain other mechanisms are associated with the freewheeling device to cause the latter to increase the speed of the driveshaft at periodic or irregular-intervals, as the case may be.

The-invention has in view as a further somewhat more detailed objectivethe provision of an attachment'fo-r spinning machines of the characterabove note'd, which is readily and easily adjustable to affordvariations in the irregular thickness of the yarn which is produced. Inorder for an attachment of this type to be properly operable underpractical commercial conditions it is necessary that the spinningmachine to which it is attached be operable to produce an irregular yarnof any desired'structure. invention includes" as an important phasethereof this ease of adjustability.

Accordingly the Various'other more detailed objects and advantages suchas arise in connection with attaining the above objectives will in partbecome apparent,-and in part be hereinafter stated, as the descriptionof the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises an attachment for spinning andsimilar machines which is designed to be operatively associated with thedriveshaft for the feed'roll' of the machine, to

provide increase in the speed of the drive shaft at showing of Figure 1.In this view only those parts of the spinning machine are illustratedwhich are necessary to bring out the mode of operation of the attachmentof this invention,

Figure3 is a view of an irregular piece of yarn which is spun on aspinning frame when the at-' tachment of this invention is appliedthereto,

Figure 4 is a detailed view in perspective of one part of theattachment,

Figure -5 is. a showing partly in section and partly in elevation of thedrive shaft for the feed rollers. The sectional part of this view istaken about on the plane represented by the line 55 of FigureG,

Figure 6 is a section through the drive shaft. of

' of rollers II are carried by the shaft [0.

Figure 5, and is taken about on the plane represented by the line 66 ofFigure 5, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed showing of the ratchet mechanism of theattachment.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts, it is first important to note that while theattachment of the present invention is illustrated and described inconjunction with a spinning machine such as is employed in thepreparation of woolen yarns, it is to be clearly understood that theinvention is not to be limited to this particular type of machine. Theinvention is adaptable for use on any machine employed for spinning,twisting or roving purposes on yarns of any fibrous makeup, such asanimal, vegetable or synthetic, and in which machine there is a feedroll which controls the speed at which the yarn is fed to the machine.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, certain parts of a spinningmachine with which this invention is particularly concerned are thereillustrated. A shaft designated I is driven from a suitable source (notillustrated) and a plurality The cylindrical surfaces of these rollersll may be roughened or corrugated, as occasion demands, to afford aproper gripping engagement with the yarn that passes thereover, andwhich yarn is designated l2.

At the extremity of the machine on which the attachment of thisinvention is to be applied the shaft I0 drivably carries a pinion I3,and this pinion I3 is in mesh with a gear |4 that is nonrotatablymounted on a stub shaft |5. At this point it is well to note that themountings in the framework for the various shafts herein illustrated anddescribed are not shown in the drawings; this arrangement making for abetter and clearer illustration of the various operating parts. Thus themountings for the shafts l0 and I5 are not illustrated.

The shaft l5 at its outer extremity carries another gear l6 that mesheswith a gear I! that is drivably connected with a feed roll drive shaftdesignated l8 by a free wheeling mechanism that is referred to in itsentirety by the reference character l9. It is notable that free wheelingmechanisms such as that represented at I9 are well-known to thoseskilled in the mechanical arts. However, the detailed construction ofthis free wheeling mechanism will be described hereinafter withreference to Figures 5 and 6.

The drive shaft l8 also carries, in a nonrotative relationship withrespect thereto, a ratchet wheel designated 20, and which ratchet wheelis affected by certain mechanisms to be later described, to increase thespeed at which the shaft I8 is driven at periodic or irregularintervals. The shaft l8 extends back into the spinning machine, andcarries feed rollers 2| over which the yarns |2 pass. Certain otherrollers cooperate with the rollers 2| to maintain the yarns in effectiveengagement therewith, and a comparable arrangement is employed inconjunction with the rollers With the shaft ||l driven at a constantspeed the rollers rotate at a constant speed. Due to the gear reductionsprovided by gears l3, |4, I6 and IT there is a speed differentialbetween the speed rotation of the shaft Ill and the normal operatingspeed of the shaft l8, and this speed differential causes a drafting onthe yarn in a manner well-known to those skilled in the spinning art. Itis evident that the speed of rotation of the shaft |8 never falls belowthe normal operating speed. However, due to the free wheeling mechanismat IS the ratchet wheel is at times effective to increase the speed ofrotation in a manner that will now be described.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and '7, the ratchet wheel 20 isshown as provided with ratchet teeth 22. Engaging with the ratchet teeth22 are a pair of pawls designated 23 and 24. These pawls 23 and 24 arepivotally mounted, as shown at 25 and 26 respectively, on an arm 21 thatis freely carried by the shaft l8. As shown at 28 and 29 the pawls 23and 24 are spring pressed, and thus maintained in engagement with theteeth 22 of the ratchet wheel 20.

It is evident that when the arm 21 is stationary the ratchet wheel 20may rotate in a counter clockwise direction (speaking with reference tothe showing of Figures 1 and 7) and the pawls will merely ride over theratchet teeth 22. Likewise, during any movement of the arm 21 in aclockwise direction the pawls 23 and 24 will ride over the ratchet teeth22. However, if the arm 21 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction,the pawls 23 and 24 engage the ratchet teeth' 22 to cause acorresponding movement on the part of the ratchet wheel 20.

Pivotally connected to the arm 21 adjacent its free extremity, asrepresented at 30, is a link 3|, and this link 3| is connected at itsother extremity, as shown at 32, to a triangularly shaped cam member 33.An arm 34 is pivotally mounted, as shown at 35, on the framework of themachine (not shown) and the cam member 33 is pivotally mounted, as shownat 36, on the arm 34.

The cam plate 33 is provided with an arcuate slot 31 with whichcooperates a threaded pin and nut assembly 38 that is carried by the arm34. It is evident that the nut and pin assembly 38, together with thearcuate slot 31, provide means for adjusting the position of the camplate 33 with respect to the arm 34.

An arcuate supporting arm 39 is formed with a correspondingly shapedslot 40 through which passes a threaded bolt 4| (Figure 4) that extendsinto an appropriate socket in the framework of the machine, to securelyhold the supporting arm 39 in position. Pivotally carried at the freeend of the supporting arm 39 is a pivot pin I2, and carried by thispivot pin 42 is a cam carrier 43 which carries a plurality of camrollers 44 hat are mounted on hearing pins 45.

As clearly brought out in Figure 4, the cam carrier 43 is provided witha plurality of openings 46 which are threaded to receive the bearingpins 45. By threading these pins into appropriate openings 46 variationsin the relative positions of the cam rollers 44 are afforded.

It is also notable that the cam carrier 43, illustrated in the drawings,may be replaced by a cam carrier of a larger or smaller size, asoccasion demands, and provision is made for locating the pivotal centerof the cam carrier at the proper point by the adjustability in themounting of the arm 39.

The peripheral edge of the cam carrier 43 is provided with gear teeth4'! that mesh with a pinion 48 that is carried by a gear 49. Meshingwith the gear 49 is a driving pinion 50 that may be driven from anysuitable source, such as by the endless belt represented at 5| in Figure1.

With the driving pinion 50 driven by the belt 5| in an appropriateconstant rate of speed, the gear 49 is turned, and moving therewith isthe pinion 48. As the latter is in mesh with the gear teeth 48 on thecam carrier 43 the latter is moved to cause movement of the cam rollers44 in a clockwise direction speaking with reference to the showing ofFigure 1. As each of the rollers 34 engages the cam 33 the latter isurged upwardly, and due to the fixed pivotal mounting 35 of the arm 34,the arm 21 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction to add an incrementof speed to the ratchet wheel 20 that is drivably mounted on the shaftl8.

This increase of speed on the part of the shaft I8 is permitted by thefree wheeling assembly I9 that is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The gear I1 is shown as formed with an ex tension 52 having a socket 53which receives the extremity of the shaft l8. On the side opposite theextension 52 the gear I! carries a housing 54 Which surrounds the shaft18. When the shaft I8 is received in the housing 54 the shape of thelatter, together with the cylindrical shape of the shaft 13 defines thesomewhat crescent-like recesses shown in Figure 5 and designated 55.

Disposed in each of these recesses 55 is a roller 56, and a retainingplate 51 retains these rollers 55 in position. It is evident that withno power applied to the ratchet wheel 20 the shaft l8 will be driven bythe gear I! as the free wheeling mechanism I9 establishes the drivingconnection between the gear I! and the shaft I8. However, when theratchet wheel 20 is actuated at a speed in excess of the normaloperating speed of the shaft IS, the free wheeling mechanism permits theshaft NJ to freely rotate in the housing 54 and socket 52 at a higherrate of speed than that at which the gear I! is driven.

It is now a known practice in the spinning art to employ a spinningmachine including two feed rolls, and pass yarn of one color over onefeed roll and yarn of another color over the other feed roll, with theresulting yarn product comprising a blend of the two colors.

This invention contemplates the use of the attachment aforedescribedwith machines of this type, as the attachment is readily applicable toeach of the feed rolls.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth it is to be clearly understood that we are not to be limitedto the exact construction illustrated and described, because variousmodifications of these details may be provided in putting the inventioninto practice within the purview of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a drive shaft of a spinning machine, a means forrotating the drive shaft at a regular operating speed, an attachment forincreasing the speed of rotation of the drive shaft over the regularoperating speed at periodic or irregular intervals comprising a ratchetwheel nonrotatably mounted on the drive shaft, an arm freely mounted onthe drive shaft adjacent to the ratchet Wheel, a pawl carried by saidarm and engaging said ratchet wheel, and means for oscillating the saidarm with a positive action, said means consisting of cam mechanism, andrigid and non-yielding mechanical linkage between the said arm and thesaid cam mechanism.

2. In combination with a drive shaft of a spinning machine, a means forrotating the drive shaft at a regular operating speed, an attachment forincreasing the speed of rotation of the drive shaft over the regularoperating speed at periodic or irregular intervals comprising a ratchetwheel drivably mounted on the drive shaft, an arm rotatably mounted onthe drive shaft, a pawl carried by said arm and engaging the ratchetwheel whereby said arm is effective to drive the ratchet wheel in onedirection of its movement, a link connected to said arm, a second armhaving one end pivotally mounted in the framework of the machine and theother end connected to said link, and cam means associated with saidlast men tioned arm causing oscillation of the same whereby the firstmentioned arm is oscillated.

3. In combination with a drive shaft of a spinning machine, a means forrotating the drive shaft at a regular operating speed, an attachment forincreasing the speed of rotation of the drive shaft over the regularoperating speed at periodic or irregular intervals comprising a ratchetwheel drivably mounted on the drive shaft, an arm rotatably mounted onthe drive shaft, a pawl carried by said arm and engaging the ratchetwheel whereby said arm is effective to drive the ratchet wheel in onedirection of its movement, a link connected to said arm, a second armhaving one end pivotally mounted in the framework of the machine and theother end connected to said link, a cam plate connected to said secondarm and link respectively, said cam plate being adjustable with respectto said arm, a cam carrier pivotally mounted on the framework of themachine, cam rollers carried by the carrier and adapted to engage thecam plate to cause oscillation of said second mentioned arm, and whichoscillation through the said link causes oscillation of the firstmentioned arm, and means for rotating said cam carrier.

4. In combination with a spinning machine including a feed roll, a driveshaft for the feed roll, free wheeling mechanism on the drive shaft, andmeans for driving the drive shaft at a regular speed through the freewheeling mechanism, means for increasing the speed of rotation of thedrive shaft over the regular operating speed at periodic or irregularintervals comprising a ratchet drivably mounted on the drive shaft, pawlmechanism associated with the ratchet wheel for rotating said ratchetwheel in one direction, cam means for causing positive actuation of saidpawl mechanism, non-yielding mechanical linkage between the pawlmechanism and the cam means; and means for operating said cam means atperiodic or irregular intervals.

5. An attachment of the character described comprising a ratchet wheeladapted to be drivably mounted on the drive shaft of a spinning machine,an arm adapted to be rotatably mounted on the drive shaft of a spinningmachine, a pawl carried by said arm and engaging said ratchet wheel, acam plate, operative connections between said cam plate and said armwhereby oscillation of the cam plate causes oscillation of the arm, acam carrier adapted to be pivotally mounted on the framework of aspinning machine, means for rotating the cam carrier, and a plurality ofcam rollers carried by the cam carrier and adapted to engage the camplate to cause oscillation thereof, said rollers being adjustable on thecam carrier.

WILLIAM H. PORTER. NORMAN REDMAN.

